The Blossoms of Yangsan Sunmaewon

Posted by Ulsan Online on Mar 6, 2019 in
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You have probably seen that iconic photo of a Korail train passing by a field of blooming spring blossoms. You probably had no idea that it was actually close to Ulsan, at least I didn’t anyway. However, this is actually a unique little area that is perfect for a spring day. The maehwa or plum blossoms are the first to bloom and the Yangsan Sunmaewon is one of the most famous places to see the blossoms.

The main area is centered around the Yangsan Sunmaewon, a grove of Maehwa or plum trees. The main building in the grove has tables under the blossoms where food and drinks are available. There are also a number of restaurants around the grove (along the road) that offer local specialities like minari pork belly (samgyupsal with japanese parsley). For a birds-eye view of the grove, grab a cup of coffee at the Holly’s Coffee shop and head to the roof. They have installed a “skywalk” to give an unobstructed view of the beautiful area. If you are not brave enough to step into the glass box, the rooftop has tables which offer an amazing view as well as the view from the second floor is quite nice as well.

The prominence of the area is basically for the imagery of the trains gliding past the blossoms alongside the Nakdong River. As stated before, this is one of the top images of Korea in the spring. So much so that there is a viewing platform that allows you to get that shot. Check out the train schedule below for the times (in red) and note that the SRT will fly by there as well.

It is highly recommended that you take the train out there. You can book your tickets through Korail’s Talk app that we wrote about recently. The road to Yangsan Sunmaewon is a tiny 2-lane road that weaves through the mountains. While it is scenic, it can and will get backed up during the spring blossom season. In particular, during the 13th Wondong Maehwa Festival that takes place on March 16-17 this year. You can guarantee that there will be a lot of people and traffic will be an issue. Despite this, the festival will be an interesting one with traditional performances and a lot foods tents.

Jason Teale is a freelance photographer and writer based in South Korea specializing in travel, Cinemagraphs, food, and documentary photography. Available for assignments in Ulsan, Busan, Seoul, and nationwide.